"[8] Tim Smith of The Baltimore Sun also praised the piece, saying, "Higdon unleashes a kinetic storm of urban beats, balanced by passages of Asian-influenced musings that exploit the most seductive qualities of the diverse percussion instruments assigned to the soloist."
Smith continued:Adding an unusual layer to the work is Higdon's decision to treat the orchestra's percussion section as a second protagonist.
But that doesn't much matter in the end, for the concerto is filled with absorbing musical ideas that are taken in interesting, often foot-stomping directions.
[9]Conductor and frequent Higdon collaborator Marin Alsop wrote of the work, "In this concerto, you can hear the essential qualities about Jennifer as a composer and person — the music is direct, immediate and visceral with clear direction and shape, just some of the qualities that also define her as an 'American' composer."
Alsop further remarked, "'Accessible' is often a dirty word in the world of art, but Jennifer embraces the concept and explains that a major priority for her is to give listeners a sense of grounding and a feel for where they are in her compositions.